At
Easter
, one of the most deeply rooted traditions among Catholics is not to eat meat, especially
the so-called red meat,
such as cow.
So much so that this goes hand in hand with the habit of eating fish, whose consumption tends to increase on these dates.
But,
why is meat not eaten at Easter and what are the days when it should not be eaten?
The custom is based on a regulation of the Catholic Church that has its origin in
the practice of fasting as a sign of penance and purification
, something common with other religions for millennia.
The Bible, a sacred book for Christians, gives an account of this in both the Old and New Testaments, where it is related how figures such as Moses or Jesus Christ himself fasted, who spent forty days in the desert without eating according to the gospel of Saint Matthew.
Historically, the Church established abstinence from meat as a precept for two specific days of the year:
Ash Wednesday
-which begins Lent, the time prior to Holy Week which lasts six weeks- and
Good Friday
, when it is remembered the death of Jesus Christ.
However, many faithful observe this rite every Friday of the year.
Due to abstinence from meat, many Catholics eat fish at Easter.
The punctual abstinence from eating meat seems to be related to the fact that
since ancient times it was associated with feasting banquets
,
quite the opposite of what is commemorated in Holy Week.
These days for Christians are days in which they spiritually join the pain that Christ suffered when he was crucified.
Precisely
the crucifixion and death of Christ are a central part of the liturgy of Good Friday, a day of sorrow
and repentance for sins.
Only on Easter Sunday does the time to celebrate come as it commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The prohibition of eating meat, however, began to be relaxed
in 1966, when after the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI highlighted in the apostolic constitution
Paenitemini
that there were other ways of practicing penance, and that
abstinence from meat it could be replaced by prayer and works of charity.
This line was later ratified in the 1983 Canon Code promulgated by Pope John Paul II.
Pope Francis suggested other types of fasting, such as "turning off the television, disconnecting from the cell phone and giving up useless criticism."
The Argentine Episcopal Conference promulgated the following complementary legislation on March 19, 1986: “The traditional penitential practice on Fridays of the year consisting of abstinence from meat is retained;
but
it can be replaced, according to the free will of the faithful, by any of the following practices: abstinence from alcoholic beverages, or a work of piety, or a work of mercy
”.
More recently, Pope Francis insisted in different homilies to emphasize that
the true meaning of fasting did not go through depriving yourself of eating meat.
"Fasting is not only external, an external observance, but a fast that comes from the heart," he said. "You cannot do penance on the one hand and commit injustice on the other," he added, asking for "coherence."
And in a homily at the beginning of Lent, he suggested other forms of fasting such as "turning off the television, disconnecting from the cell phone and giving up so much talk, so much useless criticism."
Beyond the religious sense, many people maintain the habit of including more preparations with fish on the menu for these dates, such as the popular vigil empanadas.
For Easter Sunday, the forte is sweet: the traditional bagel and chocolate eggs.
look also
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